This project is designed to conserve electrical energy by replacing conventional high-pressure discharge lamps using LEDS that are operated directly from the main power supply using a resistor and capacitor in combination.

LEDs require a DC supply to operate. In this project, an AC is converted to a DC by a rectifier. A string of LEDs is connected in series & parallel combination through a series capacitor and a rectifier to convert the AC to DC. It is thus made to operate at 230V AC. The series capacitor is used to drop the voltage while the resistor is used to limit the starting current.The voltage is then rectified to DC for maintaining a safe operating voltage for the LEDs.

A number of LEDs are used to give adequate illumination from the AC supply. Since a large voltage is dropped by a series element in between the supply and the load, the resistor value is deliberately kept low to minimize the power loss. White LEDs are preferred to be used as they deliver bright light.